The gigantic and terrifying nine headed sea monster Daagon let’s out a sea shaking roar, halting all within earshot. The White Golem frantically flies away.

Tamar: Loc!

Gidget: Get out of there Loc!

Loc materializes his Steam Spear. He looks scared but stands firm.

Gideon: Get back to the ship kid!

Four of Daagon’s heads dive at Loc. Loc readies his spear but Rivna uses the waves to pull him to her, causing him to evade the attack. As the sea creature splashes into the ocean it creates a large wave that pushes the Flying Broom away.

Rivna directs her hands and Loc is tossed onto the deck of the Flying Broom by the water. Rivna holds onto the hull of the ship. A huge wave of water propels it away from the monster while the lower half of her body remains submerged.

Seth: Just what the hell is that thing?!

Gidget: I sure as hell don’t wanna stick around to find out! We need to get as far away from here as we can, stat!

Gideon: It’s Daagon, the mighty sea Aeon.

Tamar: Aeon?

Gideon: Mythical vyrkrial beasts created by The Will long before man set foot on this planet. Mankind had no reason to fear them prior to the Queen of Queens' reign. Now she alone holds the power to contest their might.

Phoebe: So what you’re saying is we don’t stand a chance in hell against that thing.

Gideon: I’m saying even a princess doesn’t stand a snowball's chance in hell against that thing. Basically, we need to hightail it out of here.

Everyone looks astonished by his words.

Seth: Even a princess?

Loc: How do you know all this Uncle?

Gideon grins.

Daagon rises behind the ship with a roar. One of its heads, which is nearly the size of the Flying Broom itself, is at its flank.

Gideon: Man the turrets! Do anything to slow it down!

Tamar, Seth, and Phoebe mount gatling turrets on the flanks of the ship, but they’re ineffective.

Loc notices the single head on the opposite side of the ship versus the four heads that are hovering near him and leering at him.

Loc leaps onto the water to everyone’s bewilderment.

Gidget: Loc what are you doing?!

Loc: It’s after me, just go on!

Gideon: No Loc!

Daagon leaves the ship alone and pursues Loc. Loc dodges multiple attacks. He readies his spear to counter but a head approaches from behind and bites off his left arm. Everyone looks distraught. Loc yells in pain.

Another head of Daagon gulps down Loc and submerges. Everyone looks mortified.

Gideon: Loc!

Rivna: Loc!

Daagon pursues the ship.

Loc is inside the esophagus of the Aeon and loses consciousness.

King Hezekiah: Open your eyes son!

A young six year old Loc is riding on the back of Hezekiah, a tall and regal Arcane king. Loc carefully opens his eyes; Hezekiah is flying him through the beautiful evening sky on his back. Loc looks delighted.

Loc: Wow! We’re really flying Father! How are we doing this?!

The duo rips through the skies in great delight.

King Hezekiah: We Massadans are the royal heirs of planet Irikihl, my son. Under The Will we have dominion over all that dwells upon this planet.

Hezekiah directs his hand and the clouds form into identical shapes of them flying. Loc looks astounded.

King Hezekiah: Even the very planet itself bends to the whims of royalty. As long as we remain committed to the customs and heritage we received from The Will we’ll always possess this divine power.

Loc: Then why is the Queen of Queens so powerful? Is she royalty too?

King Hezekiah: No. Far from it. She is a plague that is prophesied to be overthrown by our lineage soon.

Loc: But if we’re the original rulers of the planet how did we lose our rulership to her, Father?

King Hezekiah: Many of our people forsook our divine customs in favor of the ways of the other nations. And as punishment The Will has stripped us of our strength. But he has not forsaken us completely. If we return back to our heritage he will restore our divine power unto us. The power to slay that evil witch once and for all.

The Flying Broom appears from the clouds. Loc and Hezekiah smile at it.

Hezekiah lands on the deck of the Flying Broom and let’s Loc down. Arcane soldiers dressed in regal attire salute to them by placing their right fist over their hearts. A small Aldrog does the same.

King Hezekiah: Watch over my boy while I’m away Aldrog. I’m counting on you.

Aldrog: I’ll guard him with my life, Your Majesty!

Loc: You’re going to slay that wicked witch once and for all Father?!

Hezekiah smiles and pats him on the head.

King Hezekiah: That’s right son. If it be the way of The Will. Always remember what I taught you, my son.

Loc: I will Father.

Hezekiah and the soldiers fly off the ship as Loc and Aldrog wave to them. They’re met with thousands of other soldiers in the air as they fly high into the clouds.

Loc is in a dark void crying. The silhouettes of the Queen of Queens and her daughters are surrounding him and laughing at him. Their piercing red eyes can be seen and the Queen of Queens is sitting on a throne. She raises her hand and the severed head of Hezekiah floats before Loc. He looks horrified.

Queen of Queens: Do you see now little boy? This is what becomes of those who plot insurrection against their benevolent queen.

Helga: I say we cut off his tongue, pluck out his eyes, and rip off his ears.

Holly: How about we just remove his limbs and let him rot away in the dungeon?

Hilda: Whatever you do at least castrate him.

Hrist: It would be wise to simply dispose of him as quickly as possible. Letting him live could be dangerous.

Holly: Oh Hrist you’re always too careful. He’s just a boy, he’s harmless.

Hrist: Perhaps at the moment he is, but the strength of their bloodline is growing. His father was by far the most difficult to vanquish among them.

Queen of Queens: No my daughters. We are going to let him live a long healthy life.

The daughters gasp in confusion.

Hrist: But Mother!

Queen of Queens: We will simply forbid him from keeping his customs and hide the knowledge of his ancestors from him. As long as he can’t keep the Code of The Will he is completely harmless to us.

The other daughters giggle. Heldine’s silhouette, who is the same age and size as Loc, looks at her mother and sisters in disdain.

The Queen of Queens leans forward.

Queen of Queens: You see little Loc? Your benevolent queen is merciful. If you be a good little boy I’ll take you under my wing and be a wonderful mother to you. I may even grant you immortality like the rest of my children.

Loc runs away with angry tears.

Heldine: Loc!

Loc quits running in isolated darkness. He falls to his knees with teary eyes. After a pause he clenches his fists and looks forward with a fierce angry look. His eyes glow entirely black.

Inside Daagon, Loc opens his eyes. His eyes glow entirely black and he has a fierce look.

Rivna’s eyes turn entirely black and she enters a trance-like state. She dodges the diving heads of Daagon through the waves and approaches the head that swallowed Loc.

Rivna motions her hands and the sea forcibly opens its mouth. Rivna bungee jumps inside and grabs Loc. When they get out Daagon let’s out an angry roar.

Loc gets on his feet and Rivna looks confused as she resumes consciousness. Loc holds his arm to her vyrkracite and it expels black steam. A spear of fire, ice, and electricity form from the black steam in Loc’s hand.

Loc: I’m sorry for intruding your mind like that, but nothing is going to stand in the way of my purpose.

Rivna looks surprised. She turns to Daagon in distress as all nine heads charge at them.

Loc: Did you hear that?! You damn witch!

Loc chucks the spear, ripping apart the Aeon as well as the waters for hundreds of miles. Everyone pauses in awe.

The action is being watched by the silhouette of the Queen of Queens through a crystal ball. The ball cracks. She lets out an angry grunt.

There is a pause as Loc studies the carnage of his attack.

Loc: (So this is it. The same overwhelming level of power the Queen of Queens has terrorized the world for over a thousand years with. This is Witch Tier.)

Loc collapses into the water.

Rivna: Loc!

Chapter End