Floating above still water, looming over Kist, the disemboweled torse of the Star unfurled its four blood-soaked hands. The first three hands held up contorted fingers, bent and broken into esoteric hand signs, all leading up and pointing to the main hand.

Widening as he raised his gaze, Kist’s eyes shied away as he looked at a skinned canine-like head held up by the claws of its hand.

The suffocating feeling of a being in its presence threatened to have Kist erased; however, he fought through its overwhelming aura.

Shaking as he attempted to stand to his feet, Kist fell back into the water below.

Reacting to the sound, the Star’s hand twisted with an audible crunch as it shifted the head resting in its palm. Shrouded in darkness, the Star’s calm eyes gave no hint as to its intention upon seeing him.

Stirring the water below with his violent trembling as he fought to stand on his own feet, Kist’s mind raced, “Does it even recognize me? Is it angry? Does it want to kill me?”

The unanswerable questions raced through Kist’s mind as he finally managed to stand, that was until the Star spoke, “Submit!”

Crashing to his knees, Kist began screaming internally as his lips wouldn’t dare move, “I’ve been waiting a long time to set my eyes on one of you again!”

Staring at the Star and himself through the reflection they cast in the water, Kist watched as the binding that held his hair back snapped, sending his long, curly strands into his face.

Before looking past himself, he felt his desire for victory grow, so he raised his head.

Staring into the eyes of the Star, Kist knew he’d made a mistake as soon as he moved in its sight.

“Foolish child,” Shifting its fingers as it spoke, the Star changed the signs it displayed, and in response, three flaming symbols appeared above them. “Perish.”

Descending from the sky above, massive pillars of blinding light crashed into the ground one by one.

Which blinding ray disintegrated everything it touched, leaving massive craters on the earth as they slowly made their way over to Kist until one finally found its mark.

Plummeting overhead, Kist stared at the ray of light as it came within inches of his face, only to realize it had stopped.

Frozen in time, the pillar and the Star remained motionless, unable to move.

And, not but a moment later, the sky above them shattered. Jumping into the area, Beyond appeared accompanied by an overflowing presence that eclipsed the Star's hold over Kist.

Standing to his feet, Kist felt himself be taken off of them not but a moment later as he was tackled out of the way by Beyond as the pillar above him crashed down.

“Ah, nice work kid, you gave me just enough time to come to the rescue!” Laughing as he set Kist down on his feet, Beyond showed him a bright smile through closed eyes.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“Uh? O-oh no, that wasn’t me…I thought that was you.” Questioned Kist.

Opening his eyes with confusion written over his face, Beyond thought for a moment before he quickly shook his head, “Not important. Right now we gotta deal with the mess you made.”

“Wait, doesn’t this mean I passed?” Shouting out in excitement, Kist stepped toward Beyond, only to feel a hand pull him back.

“Don’t get too cocky or confident; the only way you’d pass is if you managed to stand to the star,” Turning, Kist was met with the disapproving face of Ensis. “So, as far as I’m concerned you failed.”

“Hey, now is not the time; keep your eyes open!” Demanding the attention of the two next to him, Beyond shifted his own to the Star, who’d been freed along with the pillar of light.

“Petulant Child-” Freezing mid-sentence, the Star again froze before seemingly being free and continuing, “-ren, you all will return to dust!”

Shifting its arms as it spoke, the Star creature created an imaginary link between itself and the symbols it created.

“Beyond!” Softly shouting as he raised his hands, Ensis, in the blink of an eye, set a powerful surge of gravitational energy on the Star’s arms and its body that sent it hurtling down to the ground.

“Yeah, yeah, I hear you. I’ll finish this quick,” Snapping his fingers, Beyond, to Kist’s confusion, forced the young man into the air.

“Now you’re in my sights, too bad that means you lost your life,” Hovering helplessly above Beyond’s raised hand, Kist watched in confusion as he pointed the other at the Star, “Horizon’s Edge!”

Pointing out his pointer finger, Beyond released an expression that warped the entire observable space, pinching the Star’s body at the point it crossed over the horizon’s line before rebounding in a quick and violent motion that left a massive gash in the Horror’s body.

Surging with energy as he watched the Star reel back in pain with infectious excitement, Beyond quickly recomposed himself before turning toward Ensis, “You finished yet?”

“Yeah, let’s get outta here and send that thing back where it came from!” Calling out as he peeled apart the sky in front of him, creating a giant rift in front of him, Ensis motioned for Beyond to go through first.

Without hesitation, Beyond jumped through the portal, crossed through the firmament, and reappeared above the observation’s stadium with Kist, Ensis, and tow.

Landing on the marbled stone surface, the three men each signed a breath of relief before one of them, Kist, shot up in excitement.

“Did I pass!?” Shouted Kist.

“Calm down, don’t be so eager,” Holding up his hands in defense, Beyond laughed as he continued, “It’s not up to just the two of us; you’ll receive your final judgment as soon as we do.”

“Hmph!” Sneering at Beyond’s words, Ensis rolled his eyes, unwilling to speak to Kist or Beyond.

Overflowing with happiness, Kist clinched his fist before a spasm rip through his body, sending a sharp and excruciating pain through him.

‘Fuck!” Hissing through his teeth as he crouched down while slowly relaxing, Kist laughed through the pain his body was battling by using the remaining cosmic energy within him to slowly heal his wounds.

“Calm down, kid,” Shoving Kist forward as he spoke, Ensis sneered at the overzealous boy, “I told you don’t be so cocky; now get out of here before you piss me off.”

Shifting his eyes to look at Beyond, Kist glanced at him expectantly, only to receive a cold shrug in response paired with an assuring grin.

Taken aback by the sight, Kist’s eyes widened with triumph as he rejoiced within his mind. However, Kist still sighed as he understood he was no longer welcome and began making his way out of the observatory.

Walking up the staircase leading to the oversized entrance, Kist noticed the gaze of several members of the audience who stayed to watch his performance.

Failing to conceal his overflowing excitement, Kist felt a smile stretch across his face as he exited the building.

Making his way over the tramway, he waited patiently as the vehicle slowly reached the summit, knowing he hadn’t the energy to descend the mountain himself.

“Wait, I can’t take the train back home, can I… this might be a problem.” While thinking over his options to return home, Kist dusted himself off and cleared the blood from his face, “Guess I just have to walk… I can’t wait to tell Skyler the good news.”