On a remote planet in the XIV Universe, during the XVI Imperial year of the reign of the illustrious Empress Eleonora, the undisputed ruler of the planet Sion and the legitimate sovereign of all known universes, two destinies intertwined in an epic confrontation, reaching the climax of a vengeance that had spanned ages.

<<Finally, we stand face to face!>> declared one of them with a vibrant voice, a challenging tone echoing through the planet's crystalline air.

His interlocutor, shrouded in a tattered black cloak and armor now reduced to a symbol of better times, seemed like a warrior forgotten by time, an entity aged by battle and hatred. Under the black hood, his face bore the indelible marks of years spent in an endless struggle, the former enemy now reduced to a shadow of himself.

<<Silence, you are nothing but a walking corpse. Look at what you've become. Pathetic!>> replied the other with disdain, his fiery gaze fixed with contempt on his opponent.

On the other side, an elder with silvery hair and burning eyes carried the wrinkles of time and scars from past battles on his face, but his smile held a melancholy that revealed a more complex history. He wore fiery red attire and a precious silver shield with a golden scorpion emblem on a red background on his back. In his hands, he wielded a sword and dagger ready for the challenge, weapons that had seen millennia of use and history.

<<Today is the day of reckoning! I will finally avenge everything you and your kin have inflicted upon me>> he declared with determination, his resonant voice echoing through the surrounding rocks.

<<I highly doubt it. In fact, I should be the one seeking vengeance for the pain you've caused my family for generations>> the first one retorted firmly, their gazes intertwined like blades ready to be unsheathed.

The words were charged with tension, and the very air vibrated with an ancestral energy, heralding an epic clash that would mark the history of those distant universes.

<<Prepare yourself, for I shall show no mercy!>> the elder warned ferociously, his voice resonating like distant thunder.

<<Enough, you're just a shadow of your former self!>> the other replied, trying to conceal the turmoil that had gripped him, but his gaze betrayed a hint of uncertainty.

In an instant, what had seemed like a spectral figure transformed into a young and vigorous version of himself, regaining a vitality that defied time and destiny.

<<I see you've learned to wield the seals, Diablo Erem>> the elder acknowledged with respect, recognizing his opponent's mastery of the ancient arts.

<<Never as much as you, Antares>> the youth replied firmly, with a mutual respect that permeated their words, an acknowledgment of the greatness of their shared past.

Antares Julius Feirmisis, CXXVI sovereign of all universes, the last living guardian of an ancient era, bore with honor the name of Gemini III of the NoGheminis, keeping the flame of the illustrious imperial family alive. However, the individual in front of him was the oldest enemy of the imperial family, nicknamed the Tyrant, a bloodthirsty despot who had nearly brought about the destruction of all existing universes. Yet, after years spent in the prisons of oblivion, it seemed somewhat bizarre that he was there, radiant with energy and readiness, ready to rewrite history with blood and vengeance.

The duel had lasted for hours, swords barely missing in the deadly dance that had engulfed the entire planet. However, it seemed that Diablo Erem had begun to yield under Antares's fierce blows. His once proud armor was reduced to tatters, and his face showed signs of imminent defeat. With a well-placed strike, Antares forced Diablo to kneel, the tip of his trembling sword mere inches from his enemy's skin. The air was charged with tension, and silence seemed to envelop the planet as Antares stared at his adversary.

<<Defeated, Diablo Erem. Your reign of terror is coming to an end>> declared Antares, his voice hoarse and exhausted, a gleam of revenge and triumph illuminating his eyes.

Diablo Erem, now prostrate, lifted his gaze to Antares. He too had been disfigured by the battle, but his eyes still burned with anger.

<<It's true, Antares, you've won. But you will never get what you seek!>> he muttered weakly, trying to hide the pain that tormented him.

Antares lowered his sword and knelt in front of Diablo, respect now evident in his gaze.

<<I never wanted you to suffer, Diablo. Only the truth is redemption for your crimes. Tell the truth, and perhaps we can find a way to end this millennia-long war!>>

Diablo Erem looked into Antares's eyes for a moment, then burst into bitter laughter.

<<The truth? Ah, the truth. You see, Antares, you know nothing. You don't know the weight of your predecessors' dreams, of broken promises and betrayed hopes. You don't know how much pain I and my followers bear because of your family!>>

Antares leaned forward, bringing his face close to Diablo's.

<<Then tell me, Diablo. Tell me the secret your master took to his grave. Only then can we end this madness.>>

But Diablo closed his eyes forever. It was finally over, a war that had lasted too long had come to an end. Eerie silence enveloped the place, and suddenly a temporal vortex seemed to surround them. Antares's memories surged in a whirlwind of images and sounds, taking him back to his first encounter with the Supreme High Priest.

"Antares, remember, when the time comes, you'll have to make a difficult choice, a choice that will lead to salvation or destruction. The final decision will be yours. Once you know that secret, there's no turning back. Remember that well, Antares" At the time, Antares had nodded, not fully understanding the meaning of those words.

Long ago, on the day of his coronation, in a moment of deep reflection, Antares cradled his heart and thoughts, his voice echoing like an ancestral echo in the gravity-laden atmosphere:

"It doesn't matter who you are or what shadow has darkened your past. It's the choice that will forge your destiny, the one you make now that will guide your path. The good you give to the world will be the source of your strength, and the evil you sow will be the ghost that haunts you in the dark of the night. In any case, you are the author of your own story, you alone will know the sacrifices, the sacrifices, and the losses you've had to face. You've seen love fade, friendships vanish, family bonds break like fragile chains. You've given your time, endured absence and silence. It hasn't been easy, I know, but you've persisted. You've been judged, defamed, slandered, betrayed, and hated. Yet, in spite of it all, you've given everything, fighting with unwavering faith. You've protected your family, the woman you've loved, your brothers and sisters, friends you've considered as brothers, sacrificing everything and everyone to weave a future of peace and justice. You've become an enemy to protect those you love. You've been bold, perhaps even mad. And now, in the end, you leave me with the burden of the Empire. O my Brother, I accept the weight you pass on with humility. From this moment on, I will no longer be just Antares, but my name will resonate as an eternal echo: Gemini III of the NoGheminis."

And so, during his long life, Antares embodied various roles. He was the Imperial Prime Minister, the Grand Admiral, the Imperial High Priest, the Guardian of Knowledge, and the Rector of the Imperial University. Titles and responsibilities accumulated like pearls on a string, testament to a life lived with fervor, always in service of the greater good. His epic, his sacrifice, his connection to the stars, to the past and the future, would become the immortal legend of the NoGheminis. He, the last of the original secondary royal lineage; he, the smallest among Emperor Chaos NoGheminis' disciples; he, the last surviving human from the original planet Earth and the only one not directly related to the imperial family to receive the title of demigod; he, the only Emperor whose reign lasted more than three cycles of seventy-two thousand imperial years; he, the last custodian of an ancient era. Now, at the peak of his life, he has more questions than answers. After the sacrifices of many of his predecessors, he is still far from the day he can rest. His journey is not yet over.

<<How much longer, my brother, must we endure all this?>> he asked, his voice vibrating with emotion. 'I would like to leave my daughter an era of lasting peace!'

Continues...

_________________________________________

If this has moved you, leave a vote for the chapter, comment with your feelings and impressions, leave a review for the series, and follow us on social media.

With the duel between Antares and Diablo Erem coming to its conclusion, the remote planet of the XIV Universe witnessed an epic clash that would shape the history of the known worlds.

However, the mystery surrounding the secret guarded by the imperial family that Diablo Erem wanted to reveal remained intact, casting a shadow of uncertainty on the future. Should the truth concealed behind that secret be unveiled? If so, at what cost? What is this secret? Why, despite millennia having passed, does it seem that the real battle has not yet begun?

_________________________________________

In the next chapter, the past and destiny will collide in an even greater conflict, and Antares will have to confront the true enemy hidden in the folds of time and space. The battle is far from over, and the future of the known worlds hangs in the balance.

_________________________________________

The next chapter will be released on 01/12/2023 and every Friday at 10:00 Italian time from that day on.

_________________________________________

Thank you for reading!