Queen Tulane huddled in her chambers holding her newborn Prince. The Prince cried from the sounds of battle outside. The Queen handed her son to her handmaiden. She pulled out her bracelet and tapped on it. The king appeared as a hologram. “Tulane, are you alright?” She nodded. “We are worried about how the battle is going.” “Not well, Most of our Red Core mages have turned on us and an airship slipped through our blockade, now causing havoc on our land forces.” she gasped.

“The Red Core has turned on us?” “It seems they are following Master Laytir but our other mages and soldiers have done a great job making a standstill with them.”

“How is Tirana?”

“General Ashburn has received a stabbed wound which she claims is from Laytir, her recording is how we discovered her husband’s betrayal.”

“Will she be alrig-“ The Queen was cut off.

    A bang came from outside, in the passageway. “Get here quick, I think there are intruders outside.” Another bang shakes the room. Tulane stood up and pulled out a short sword. The doors exploded into the room. Smoke covered the entrance and shots fried and hit royal servants. Men rushed the room but failed to notice the Queen. She dashed and slabbed one man and then turned to kill another. A red energy bolt was shot and hit the Queen in the shoulder. “AAHH!” Cried the Queen, the sword skidded across the floor. Six soldiers in black stormed the room and one kicked the wounded Tulane.

      Two walked over to the servant who was holding the Prince. she tried to resist, but as one pulled the Prince from her the other shot the handmaiden. The soldiers left the room with despair and death. The Queen crawled to her dead servant and cried. The King arrived too late, he bent down and put his hand on his wife’s head. She turned and looked him in the eyes. “They have our son, I’ll handle things here, go get my son.”

       The king and Alister ran through the halls. There were signs of destruction that were left by the men who kidnapped his son. They arrived at the landing pad. The landing pad that was used for royal guests, held a small drop ship and six soldiers, one of them carrying a baby. The king dashed through the pad, stopped in the middle, and opened his hands. Rayne summoned light particles and a stream of lightning shot in the air killing three of the soldiers. bolts flew in the direction of the King, Alister rushed to his side and dragged him under cover of a fallen column.

“Sire, the Prince is on board.”

“I know, I’m going after him.”

        His Majesty leaped over the column and ran towards the intruders. The doors of the ship started to close, leaving two mercenaries outside. Rayne jumped into the air and hurled his sword into the chest of one of the guards. He landed next to the last intruder and threw a punch at the man. The mercenary swiped up his weapon and sliced off the King’s hand. He fell to his knees, clenching his arm. Rayne heard a sword being raised and closed his eyes waiting. He felt drops hit his head and then saw a body hit the flood. Alister bent down and tapped his gauntlet. “We need medical attention to landing pad seven, His Majesty has been injured.” Rayne fell over and turned to the dropship. The engines of the ship Roared to life and took off, the King got to his feet with great labor.

         The dropship sped through the city, “They will not take him.” A black Aura surrounded the King as Alister shook his head. “Your Majesty, if you do this you will die!” The King’s hand began to shake from the growing power. “I will not let them take him, He is the ascendant!” His majesty began to yell as the black aura poured into his eyes, he closed his eyes and inhaled. The landing was quiet as the king exhaled, black cracks poured down his body as if his veins were corrupted. A powerful gust of wind ripped from the king. Alister buried his sword into the floor and braced against the hilt. “God of old, that grants me this power, allow me one last moment to take my vengeance.” “Sire! Don’t” Alister pleaded with the king, his oldest friend. The palace shook as the king’s voice boomed.

           The king started to yell from the pain that his body had to endure. The floor and walls cracked from the king’s presence. Rayne turned to look at Alister. “Goodbye, my friend.” A single tear fell from his eye. Rayne crouched and jumped into the air towards the dropship, an explosion erupted from where the king stood. Alister was blown back and hit a wall.

                                                              ***

       “Sir, we have an incoming object.” The commander looked into this display. his majesty hurled toward the commander’s craft. “Lieutenant take us into orbit now!” the commander ordered. The Lieutenant typed a few keys and their ship jumped forward in speed. the commander looked into his display. The king left a wake of clouds behind him as he flew towards them. “Lieutenant as soon as we leave orbit, jump to the rendezvous coordinates.” “aye, aye” answered the pilot. “Let’s see some cannon act here!” order the commander. Four cannons turned to the king and opened fire. Bolts of energy fired from the cannons, the king took several hits, with his only hand cracked lightning in return fire and destroyed the cannons. “How is he this powerful?” asked the commander. a visual of the king appeared on the main display. The king’s solid white body with deep black cracks terrified the commander. “He’s ascended!” the commander began to lose his nerve, He started to hyperventilate. “We’re going to die, he’ll kill us all.” He muttered the same phrase over and over. The navigation lieutenant stood up and discharged his sidearm into the commander’s head.

              The Lieutenant ordered two of the bridge crews to move the body. the Navigation lieutenant sat in the commander’s chair. “Get me the Manticore fleet.” the main display snapped to a visual of a man in decorated uniform with the rank of Lower Admiral. “You’re not Commander Valdez Zop, Where is he?” “Chain of Command, Admiral, I’m in command now, Commander Valdez Salk.” the Admiral nodded. “What can I do for you Commander?” the Commander Briefed the Admiral of the situation. “He’s ascended!?” Exclaimed the Admiral. “He’s on our trail Admiral, we are just about to hit orbit with the rendezvous coordinates, we need a distraction to get rid of the king.” the Admiral looked away for a moment. “Not to worry we’ll cover you .” the main screen went black and the commander exhaled.