BANG!… BANG!… BANG!

Explosions were heard around the city of Iskyla, it was that sentinel sent by the emperor to destroy the shield.

─Excellent, the shield will be banished any time now, my lord ─said Sared, another dark sentinel, he was next to the leader of the empire. The first one had long gray-greenish hair, black armor with a dark aura, his kivet element was poison. Helios ordered him to attack the northern part of the city.

The Iskylian army was in position, waiting for the enemy. Finally, the shield desappeared…

The rain showered the city. The real fight started, war cries were listened, swords clashing, flying arrows trhough the sky, dragons decimating soldiers and buildings. Earthquakes caused by the ones that could control earth kivets, big cyclones by air users, toxic gases thanks to the posion powers, fires caused by the red kivet; both sides had healers, it was total chaos.

The encounter seemed endless, both armies had suffer big loses. On the plains side, Rasmus defeated the enemy, he subdued Sared, and his imperial soldiers surrendered without his leader.

─You won’t go further, no more hurting ─Rasmus tied both arms of his enemy on his back.

─hahaha, it doesn’t matter that you stopped me, you don’t understand emperor Helios’s greatest plans ─he laughed like a mad man.

─You won’t conquer this kingdom.

─see how I am right. The target is not your city, but who aint see a new tomorrow.

<<Hmmn, your majesty ore the prince… >> thought the general.He delivered the sentinel to one of his captains, ordering him to lock him up in a cell; then he rushed back to the king.

At the center of the city was Nero, fighting against Raynard, eventhough the sentinel had a supposed advantage over the king as being an electric user, he was having a hard time hitting his opponent.

─Well, you do honor your tittle, your highness ─he was showing signs of tiredness.

─You think is the first time I fight against someone with your type of powers?

─I’ll be the last though, Give me all your power, Vitesse! ─Raynard activated his summoning kivet ability, it was a ten feet tall electric leopard, it appeared by his side.

There are two types of kivet abilities, only those who have been chosed by the goddesses could use one of them. One was the summoning, which allowed the user to call a protector spiritual animal of a big size; and the second one was a special sturdy armor of the element; both highly increases the user powers, though they consume a lot of energy from the human that activates them. If the user loses the ability abruptly, will lose a lot of stamina, like if it were used for days.

To Complicate things, a lot of imperial forces surrounded king Nero, a simultaneous attack was headding in his direction. ─Bring me your strength and protection in this battle, Summamus ─he also activated his summoning, a big sea turtle, bigger than the feline.

With his big turtle shell, it protected the king from the soldiers, the one thing that was hard for it to stop were the thunders form the other animal; at the same time, Nero interrupted the attacks with water bombs. However, the big size of the creature draw the dragons attention.

─You have no escape… your higness ─Raynard was running towarsd the king to strike with his katars (1). His onslaught was neutralized by an earth wall that emerged before him, an ally showed up.

─Rasmus! ─the king spoke.

─Milord, the north is secured, this area seems to be the most concurred by the enemy.

─Indeed, but… the emperor isn’t here.

─Ding,ding,ding! Bravo your higness! ─laughed the sentinel ─. I’m sorry to inform that you won’t be his adversary today ─he rose his arm to the sky, snapped his fingers and the leopard transformed into a paralyzing dust. Imperial soldiers and the few Iskylian around the sentinel were instantly unable to move, the king’s summoning desappeared ─. Oh, please! king Nero don’t glare at me ─he leaned over debris ─. I’m just doing my job.

─Stalling.

─Correct! while the great emperor Helios executes your cocky little borther.

<<I must free myself soon>>.

─Prince… Raidha is… very strong and wont… ─the general was trying to stop the paralisis.

─Shhh, I don’t want to hear you, the more quiet you are, the prettier you are ─sealed the general’s lips.

At the coastal area, Raidha and Heimon were defending without problems, they dominated the imperial forces; until Helios arrived.

─Finally decided to show your face ─said the prince filled with confidence.

─I was enjoying the spectacle ─he applauded while he was getting near the young boy ─. You’ve become really powerful, Raidha ─a dark aura surrounded Helios ─. Unlucky for you, you’re not the only one ─he laughed like the villain he is.

In a blink of an eye, the enemy was in front of the prince, punching his abdomen with brute force, he was thrown away several feets afar. Neither Heimon or Raidha had the opportunity to react to the flash attack from Helios.

─Tsk, What the hecky? his punch melted my metal armor ─coughing, the prince was complaining and was removing what was left of his armor.

The bodyguard launched himself towards their adversary, giving time to the prince to recover his posture, and activate his kivet ability; an ice armor, This resembled the figure of a dolphin. The fight continued, but none stike affected the emperor, everything was stopped before it reached him or he counterback them. Iskylian reinforcements arrived trying to help the prince.

─No! go back, you’re not opponents for him ─Raidha was fighting with his all, and he didn’t deep injure the enemy, just broke some kivets from his gauntlets and crown. Of course Helios easily killed the soldiers before they could run away. <<Damn it, I can’t let him kill my people like this>>. He thought, but he was reaching his limit.

─Ok, it’s time to end this ─in both of his palms, dark spheres started growing, he shooted one towards Raidha and the other against the big bodyguard. Both tryied to blocked the attack, but were projected with great force, even their armors were destroyed. The little one landed on the sea, and the other over some rocks at the shore.

At the center of the city, Nero and Rasmus were still trying to break free from the paralyzing dust. The sentinel was yawning of boredom, when suddently reinforcements arrived.

─Go ahead, try to save your kingliness ─said yawning again without moving an inch. Every person who tried to help and enter the electric fog, sufferd its effect ─c’mon, c’mon, keep coming.

A light tremble underneath Raynard draw his attention, son roots were sprouting from the ground ─Hmmn?, what the f…? ─they cought him, now he was the one trying to escape ─. Guuugh! aahg ─he started feeling weak, his energy was being drained.

The mist dissipated, the general recovered his movility, he didn’t waste any second to knock out the opponent; the king also freed, brought down the dragons that were lurking the area.

─Are you alright? ─the queen asked.

─Yes, thanks a lot for freeing us, your majesty.

─A little dazed, but fine thanks to you ─he opened and closed his hands repeatedly ─. We need to ask for reinforcements, Helios is after Raid.

─Ummn… I’m afraid we can’t, honey ─she said with a worried face ─. Taralia and Aceres (2) are being attacked in this moments, they…

─Asked for help… Goddamn! ─she just nodded, the king closed his eyes, sighed; he looked at his surroundings, the nemies kept coming from everywhere ─. You ─he talked to a big group of soldiers ─. I need you to go and assist Taralia.

─Roger!

Nero approached to three other soldiers ─I need you to go north from here, regroup with whoever that can fight and support Aceres ─the soldiers obey ─. My love, you and Rasmus take care of this zone, be extra careful ─he rubbed his queen’s belly.

─Are you going to Raidha?

─I’ll bring him towards this area, that way there will be more of us against the emperor, I just hope is not to late.

Staggering out of the water, the prince rose his sight, he looked how Helios was about to shoot another dark sphere towards his friend Heimon, who was unconscious over the rocks.

─NO! Heimon!!! ─desperately he threw a wave to his adversary.

─Not bad, kid ─he avoided the attack, getting away from his prey.

─Wake up Heimon!! ─he patted his firend on his cheeks, also, he noticed that in one of his hands was the flare, the one his brother gave him.

He didn’t want to addmit it, but he couldn’t defeat his enemy by himself; he was tired and badly injured. He took the flare, was going to lit it when Helios noticed what he was trying to do, and stopped him. Somehow the prince managed to avoid it, but the object fell from his hand, his sight blurred, he started feeling a acute pain and numbness in his chest, it was hard for him to breathe, he kneeled on the sand… A double edge sword went through his body, it also rose his face on the left side, he could feel how his warm blood leave his being.

─Was this the boy that cause you so much trouble, Milord? ─A new dark sentinel showed up.

─I didn’t ask you to intervene.

─Eek! I… I’m so sorry, please forgive me Milord ─he withdraw his sword from that body which fell to the ground, and made a reverence.

The teenage saw the face of his back attacker, and was shocked to recognize his assailant ─. You… yo… are…

With a kick, Helios turned the body of the dying prince, he took the sword of his helper ─. You’ve always been a damn fucking nuisance, die! ─he thrusted the boy, on his legs, arms and abdomen several times ─. You like sharks, huh? ─the prince had a tribal shark tatoo on each arm ─. Let’s see if they like you.

With his air kivet powers, Helios wraped Raidha in a whirlpool and toss him away leaving him deep in the ocean.

─Nobody will find you there.

─Rest in peace young prince ─added the sentinel.

─Robert! let the others know the mission is accomplished, they can retreat ─the sovereign opened a portal to his chambers and left.

─As you command your majesty!

All the imperial troops were gone from the three cities.

Nero arrived to the coast too late, the sceene he encountered was devastating. Blood merged with sand, havoc caused by a complicated battle, laying bodies without life over the floor from both armies, and no signs of his beloved brother. Eventhough the Iskyla kingdom wasn’t bowed down, the numerous loses of valiant soldiers and a royal family member, made this to not feel as a victory at all.

——

(1)Katars: is just a type of weapon, is like a big dagger with a handle in an “H” form.

(2)Taralia and Aceres: these are allied cities of the Iskyla kingdom, the fisrt one is ruled by Wilhem, Arleene’s younger brother; and the second is ruled by Bao, the second Lundberg brother.