Dark mist erupts from the sea. Turbulent waters devour the shoreline. A group of survivors flees from a dark force waving banners of the Aggerona's symbol. Resistance was futile against the enemy as they arrived in mass waves of numbers. A dark tidal wave rises over the kingdom, crashing down on its walls. With the pitch of screams and panic erupting, chaos began around where one building fell after another.
"We can't hold them any longer. The wall's been breached. So, priestess, we must escape while we still can."
"Claws! Open up the secret escape tunnel."
"Yes, sir!" He commenced.
They all enter the secret passage of escape as monsters of various shapes and sizes crash through the heavily locked gate of the palace. A massive dark smog from outside immediately poured down, with a gigantic entity emerging from the gas.
"Darn, they're here already. Commander…."
"Claws! Lead priestess Elena and the others to safety. I'll hold them to buy some time."
"Sir Aldous!" The priestess shouted.
Claws pulled her back to seal the escape passage with explosives, caving the entrance.
She was distressed, forcing him to carry her along the other way with the others. They board a ship taking sail immediately, looking back and witnessing the destruction of their home from a distance.
"Everything is lost…Oh, Maiden, I pray to you for his safe return. Please…." She looked upon the stars.
"Don't worry, priestess." Claws comforted her. "Commander Aldous will be okay. Somehow I have faith in him. So where do we head now, milady?"
"To Mathias…We set course…Mathias." She repeated over and over in a low voice.
From outside the gates of the fallen kingdom, the massive entity takes its first few steps while the smog starts to clear away. Then, long dark octopus-like legs reach out to destroy what was left of the kingdom's walls. Moon finally emerges, accompanied by two others from behind the shadows. Their eyes beamed a bright red through the darkness.
"The Capital City of Anneria is at our knees, my lord," Taishae said.
"Ooo hoo hoo hoo indeed, my metal-faced friend. Indeed. Look at them all run in fear, weeping their sorrows away. To the palace, I say."
The three immediately make their way to the palace. In mere seconds they're confronted by Commander Aldous, with some fight left in him. A few Whooper soldiers clashed with him. He immediately unleashes a technique bouncing some of them back.
"He must be the one in command, my lord. The priestess and others have been confirmed as escapees." The second hand updated.
"How sad, their defense couldn't even hold a candle. Mmm."
"Moon, my lord. Shall I step in to end this?" The metal general requested.
"Mmm, not yet. This is starting to entertain me, Taishae, my man. So let's sit back and watch hoo hoo hoo. I like a good show after being locked away over the millennia."
They continue to watch the fight for a moment, minutes before Moon's second in command had second thoughts regarding the escaped priestess. Then, finally, Taishae pressures them to stop procrastinating after Commander Aldous knocks back a few more of their soldiers.
"Oh fine, I'll end this now…."
Moon approaches Aldous while the rest clear out of the way. Aldous stands his ground.
"So you're the other half from that accursed bloodline…." The commander said.
"Oh please…" Flattered Moon. "If you're comparing me to my foolish brother Vilevelious, he is nothing compared to Mwah."
"Enough!"
He unleashes one of his charged attacks at Moon. The attack impacted with no effect as he barely flinched. Commander Aldous took one step back but was knocked unconscious by one of his tentacles' over the head.
He immediately lifts the unconscious commander with one of his legs and brings him closer. Then, poking at Aldous' lifeless face for some cheap laughs, Taishae steps in to remind him of the pursuit of the priestess.
"Oh, fine!" He tosses Aldous's body aside to give the call. "I already know where they are heading anyway. Cause I spy. I see through this crystal eye I hold. Wait! Don't tell me. It's a place, a place. A place shifted with fields, cities, and green lands, a region that brother failed to overtake that Labyrinth. MATHIAS!"
He shouted with enthusiasm while they both made a facepalm.
"That place I see…Where Vilevelious met his early end." The second in command took note.
"Taishae! I'm leaving you to take charge of our entire army. You'll be holding this capital. They're probably gonna seek aid, obviously." He kept it clear and straightforward.
"My lord…Is this necessary? Shouldn't you take the throne on this glorious day?" The metal general insisted.
"Nah…I have better places to be. Huge crowds aren't my thing. I'm also too lazy to be chasing some stragglers across the sea. I hate giving victory speeches, and you're better at it. My favorite TV show will be on soon anyway."
"Show?" Questioned the second hand.
"OH, Never mind…Just do as you see fit, my metal friend. Use our monsters sparingly."
He leaves Taishae and Second Hand to their devices. He vanishes within the dark smog of gas, and Taishae gives his first order to one of the monsters. He points to a biker-looking monster.
"Noxer! Your team will pursue the priestess and take the front lines. Set course for an invasion of Mathias."
"Wahoo! On the double General. We'll give them a WILD welcome at their doors." He jumps with anticipation and excitement, whipping his chain at the ground.
With their plans ready and set, Taishae steps over to the palace's balcony to give his speech. Legions of the Aggerona army cheer on from below.
"With the Continent of Anneria at our hands, we will make them pay for what they did to our late master Vilevelious."
A massive statue of Vilevelious was unveiled.
"The true might of our army has emerged from the depths. Far too long, we have waited from the other side of the mirror, and now is the time we act. Together we will destroy Mathias and overtake the rest of this world. Onwards!"
The legion from below cheers on. The scene transitions through the crystal eye of Moon, watching everything through the palm of his hands.
"Oh wow…And Vilevelious gets a statue. Where's mine? I'm so jealous."
His second in command arrived at the scene.
"But you said you hate statues? You usually draw faces on them." He reminded.
"I was sarcastic. The one who defeated my brother. That is what I wonder. Rumors said my brother lost to some kid in a humiliating manner. I'd like to meet that sucker anyway, mmm."
"He was our other leader…and, of course, your only family."
"I could care less that he's gone. But, on that note, we never got along anyway. Always cooped up in that old musky Labyrinth."
Meanwhile, a new day begins in Mathias. The last remaining scraps from the Baronia Empire have since cleared off the field.
Auroa and Maigashi sat back on some hill with nothing better to do.
"So the Kingdom chose to dump Baronia's remains by Hazefall. Very lazy of them." Auroa started.
"Yeah…First, their entire fortress plows under the sea, and the rest is scrapped by that sorry campsite. Won't be surprised if those kids started making up more stories. On that note, what could the others be doing now?" Maigashi wondered.
"Probably out training somewhere." Auroa assumed. "Ever since those Rose Spirits passed on, Alistor had been pushing himself."
"Like we need any training. We're just too good."
The two continued lying back.
Meanwhile, by the Sunset Shores, Alistor spars with Katty and Zolhalla for his daily training.
"Come at me!" Katty taunted.
Alistor jumps in with a swift swing from his blade at Zolhalla, caught dead in the middle of the battle. Katty unleashes beams of golden-colored projectiles at both of them. He blocks Alistor, taking the brunt of the energy attack with his back. Katty rushes in with his Nova-style dash with his staff in one hand. Zolhalla jumps in midair while Alistor holds onto him.
"Ah-ha!"
Katty misses his target; Zolhalla grabs Alistor and throws him over to him. Alistor lands on Katty, bringing them both to the ground. Zolhalla then fires his red lightning technique, giving them both a brief shock. They both quickly get back up. Alistor charges back in, so Zolhalla takes a defensive stance.
"Is that all you both got? You'll have to do better than that."
Alistor rushes back in, but Katty interferes, knocking him down. Both their weapons clashed while Zolhalla stood on the sidelines. They both are at a standstill. Zolhalla then takes this situation to his advantage and fires another round of lightning attacks at them. Alistor keeps his guard, anticipating his move this time, whereas he takes Katty by surprise.
"Not this time…."
He lets go of his struggle with Katty, grabs him from the waist, and pulls a reversal. His cape swoops in and blinds Katty's vision as he unleashes one of his attacks.
"Star Breaker!"
A bursting stream of light sends Katty flying straight into Zolhalla's attack. The waves of red lightning impacting his body were protected by his golden armor. The lightning started to retract back.
"Now for the finish."
Alistor pushed on to keep the attack going. The stream of stars and light pushes Katty further on, building in strength till he finally crashes back into Zolhalla, thus ending the battle. Unfortunately, the stream of lights impacts him along with his attack, bringing them both to the ground. Alistor was then exhausted, resting on the grass for a breather.
"I think that's good enough for today…." He concluded.
"Yeah... Me too." Katty agreed. "You improved since we last fought the Baronia King. But, man, I'm hungry. Let's get back to the city and find Tannen."
The two got up on their feet. After a short moment, they help Alistor back up, ready to call it a day. Katty suddenly notices a ship approaching the shores.
"Who's that?" Katty wondered.
As the ship boards to land, a priestess comes out and takes her first few steps. She then collapses, so Claws and the others rush to her side. Feeling traumatized by what had happened, she lost consciousness. Alistor and the others decide to check it out.
Comments (4)
See all